Repeatedly booed, frequently dismissed as an epic free-agent failure and ultimately benched, Brock Osweiler might have to be the $72 million answer to the Texans' pending quarterback decision heading into a playoff game Saturday against the Oakland Raiders.

That scenario could unfold out of necessity as well as a somewhat encouraging performance by Osweiler in relief of injured starter Tom Savage on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. Savage suffered a concussion and has to be cleared under the mandatory NFL concussion protocol before he can play again. If Savage isn't an option for medical reasons, Osweiler will be the starter, a job he lost after throwing a pair of interceptions during a Week 15 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in which Savage manufactured a comeback victory as his replacement.

Although Texans coach Bill O'Brien provided no clarity on the quarterback situation Monday, he did indicate he'll have an update as soon as Tuesday when he meets with the quarterbacks. O'Brien emphasized it's critical that the starting quarterback be able to practice this week.

Osweiler praised

O'Brien was complimentary of Osweiler's work against the Titans, which included a touchdown pass, a touchdown run and, most importantly, no turnovers. Osweiler completed 21 of 40 passes for 253 yards and an 80.5 passer rating in the 24-17 loss at Tennessee.

"Obviously, health is part of it, no question about it, but there's a lot of different factors," O'Brien said. "We moved the ball well; Brock did a nice job when he was in there."

Savage was initially cleared by an independent neurologist during Sunday's game after getting hurt in the first half on a successful quarterback sneak. He went to the locker room to be examined, returned to the field after being cleared, and knelt for one play to end the first half. O'Brien was planning to start Savage in the second half until his symptoms worsened at halftime, and he had to be taken out for the remainder of the game.

With the Texans dealing with a short week of preparation and the NFL's emphasis on not rushing players back from concussions, Osweiler might have to be the guy against the Raiders.

"I think it's important to get the reps in practice," O'Brien said. "Yeah, no question."

When asked if Savage can practice and be cleared under the concussion protocol in time for Saturday's game at NRG Stadium, O'Brien was noncommittal and said he hadn't been able to visit with the quarterbacks or medical staff since players were off Monday.

"That's why I'm going to be able to tell you some more (Tuesday)," O'Brien said. "I haven't even really seen those guys (Monday). I haven't even met with the doctors or trainers yet. I'll be able to tell you (Tuesday)."

With the Texans' pass protection shoddy for the second week in a row, Savage was under heavy duress before he got injured, completing just five of eight passes for 25 yards. He also lost a fumble on a sack, with the recovery giving Tennessee the game's first touchdown.

Finding Hopkins

In a meaningless game, Osweiler sparked the offense, connecting with Pro Bowl alternate wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins seven times for 123 yards. Osweiler displayed better timing than he had for the majority of the season in making Hopkins a more frequent target.

"I thought he did pretty good," left tackle Duane Brown said of Osweiler. "I thought he played pretty loose. He connected with Hop on some big plays."

There's a chance that Osweiler could find some redemption following a dreadful regular season in which he didn't live up to expectations.

Osweiler completed 59 percent of his throws for 2,957 yards, 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions for a 72.2 passer rating. Now he's hoping for another opportunity to prove himself in the postseason. Osweiler was replaced by Peyton Manning prior to the Denver Broncos' Super Bowl run last year.

"Absolutely, you play this game to be a starter," Osweiler said. "You play this game to contribute in a positive way to your team. So I would absolutely love to start this playoff game.

"At the end of the day, I don't make those decisions. My job is to prepare whether I'm the starter or I'm the backup and be ready to play, be ready to contribute to my team. I'll be prepared in whatever role Coach wants me to do."

Aaron Wilson is a Texans beat writer for the Houston Chronicle, joining the paper in August 2015. He was a Baltimore Ravens beat writer from 2001 to 2015, working for The Baltimore Sun, including coverage of Super Bowl XLVII, the Ray Rice domestic violence case and the careers of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Jonathan Ogden, and previously covered the team for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.

This marks the second time the Washington, D.C. native has covered the AFC South, previously covering the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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